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| The Devil You Know | 
 enlarge | Author: Mike Carey
Creator: Michael Kramer
Publisher: Tantor Media
Category: Book
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $17.37
You Save: $12.62 (42%)
New (10) Used (4) from $17.37
Avg. Customer Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 1142502
Format: Audiobook, Cd
Media: MP3 CD
Edition: MP3 Una
Number Of Items: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 1400155150
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.92
EAN: 9781400155156
ASIN: 1400155150
Publication Date: September 3, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new Item. CD, DVD, Book, VHS more than 400 000 titles to choose from. ALL days Low Price !
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Product Description
Felix Castor used to cast out demons for a living. But in a time when the supernatural realm is in upheaval, his skills are in renewed demand. The one final, well-paying assignment he accepts, however, is rapidly turning into a "who can kill Castor first" competition, with demons, were-beings, and ghosts all keen to claim the big prize.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 32 more reviews...
 Cat and mouse game in the realm of ghosts November 13, 2007
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
This was an entertaining read, a detective story that involved solving something other than your usual crimes; this time the supernatural is involved and who better to battle it than Felix Castor, a freelance exorcist with musical talent.
Witty, charming and intelligent, he maps out the grid of the ghosts he's getting rid by playing music on his tin whistle, but this time something else is going on, for once Felix starts to care about why the ghost is haunting the Bonnington Archive, a posh literary mecca of manuscripts and forgotten memories. Instead of wanting to get rid of the pesky hooded lady in white he realizes that something fishy is going on in the seemingly civilized and proper world of art and treasures and some people have crossed moral lines resulting in a haunting. Felix has other things to worry about, a big guy named Scrub who forces him to take on other projects, a mysterious succubus summoned from hell to get rid of him - someone doesn't want him to solve the enigma - and a brothel pimp who wants him to work on his side. Suffocated by negative sources he must solve the mystery of the mute ghost while under the watchful eyes of Alice, the lady in charge who seems to run the Archive while sleeping with the boss.
I liked the set up; the archives - quite an interesting place since I love libraries and various other paper storage places. It echoed of slight creepiness at night when Felix would sneak in to do his work, while seemingly alone he bumped into some things that kept threatening his life. This book was a fun read, although not too deep it still kept me interested enough to finish it in record time and the ending has quite interesting, I didn't make the connections until they were shown to me, so that's good, surprises are always welcome in my world of reading. I also liked that it left some threads running, I can only conclude that this story line will continue but with different clues and a new crime.
- Kasia S.
 Comic Book Writer Makes Good on Novel July 8, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I am a big fan of Mike Carey, admittedly. I love Lucifer and HellBlazer, both comic books written by Mr. Carey. It excited me to see a comic book writer writing a novel, because I always hope it will shed more public light on what amazing writers are in the comic world right now. (There have been some great cross overs, such as Neil Gaiman, but we can always use one more.)
Anyway, when I first picked up The Devil You Know and read the jacket, I thought perhaps this would be a soft-boiled version of John Constantine. I was wrong.
Felix Castor is close to Constantine, no argument there. They share an attitude that is grim and at the same time blackly humorous. They're both working in the trade of the spirit world, and they both have friends with chips on the shoulder, chips pointed at them. However, "Fix" has no place for magic in his exorcisms, and does his best to be an atheist. Constantine's bread and butter is magic, and he knows too well that there is a heaven and a hell.
The Devil You Know is a witty mystery with delightfully dark characters. I read it in a day, sucked into the story as sure as if Fix was playing the whistle into my ear. I loved it, I loved each character, I loved guessing at the next plot twist, and being pleasantly surprised when I was right, and more pleased when I was wrong.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good ghost story, a good murder mystery, or just good writing, great characters, and a twisting storyline.
More like 4 1/2 stars.... September 16, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Ghosts, demons, and loup-garous all exist in the world of Felix Castor. Felix, know as Fix to his friends, is an exorcist. He doesn't fit the traditional mode, nor is he associated with any church or spiritual belief that gives him his ability to exorcise ghosts. Instead, Fix uses the music from a tin whistle. His latest case, involving a ghostly apparition at the Bonnington Archive, will test all that he believes in as there is more than meets the eye to this haunting. Will Fix solve this mystery or has he finally met his match?
Mike Carey has written an engrossing tale that puts a new spin on exorcism. The concept of an exorcism by music conducted by a non-religious individual is certainly an interesting one. London is the perfect setting for such a tale as Mike Carey does a fabulous job at creating an eerie atmosphere in which the landscape only adds to the overall ambiance of the tale.
Fix is an engaging character. His quick wit makes him likeable and one can't help but cheer when he gives someone their comeuppance. However, it is his introspection that really makes him stand apart from the crowd. Fix doesn't pretend to understand where the ghosts go after an exorcism, but his latest case has him questioning what he does. Fix isn't some kind of superhero but rather seems much like any other person but with an extraordinary gift that has inflicted massive changes on his lifestyle. It is easy to relate to Fix, particularly with the glimpses Mike Carey gives about his past.
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is a deceptively powerful tale. Mike Carey cleverly draws the reader into the heart of the story and doesn't let go until the last page is turned. THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is creepy without being gory as Mike Carey demonstrates that setting a particular mood is an important piece of any storyline. I will be looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
Deliciously dark humor in this noir paranormal detective story! July 29, 2007
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
Felix Castor, free lance exorcist is working in London at a time when the supernatural is becoming more a part of everyday life in London--business is booming. Felix is cynical and smart, sort of a modern-day Philip Marlowe, with the snappy observations and occasional bad manners. He has reservations about the exorcist business but needs to pay the bills.
The latest job, a simple haunting, is turning into a bigger job than Felix can handle. He has to do some major snooping to figure out why this ghost has such a hold on the living. In the process he finds out that evil is done by the living and the dead can only re-enact it. If he gets too close to the truth, Felix may pay with his life.
Carey has created an interesting character who fits perfectly in modern day London where the ghosts are coming out of the woodwork. The Devil You Know is possessed by the spirit of noir fiction. The story is atmospheric, shadowy and at times disturbing. Felix is the prototypical hard-boiled detective with mordant wit, living in a violent and pessimistic world.
 Decent debut July 20, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This here's another entry into the paranormal investigator sub genre. Comic book writer Mike Carey's very enjoyable prose elevate this novel above the competition with wry turns of phrases and snappy wit and a populist cynicism of anti-hero Felix Caster. Plot wise however, by the time the murder mystery is solved the explanation is so ham fisted and lengthy that the exposition drones on page after page. The atmosphere to me seemed less noir-ish and more of a Simon Pegg (Sean of the Dead) vibe. Enjoyable, but could have had a tighter plot and a more satisfying tie up to the mystery.
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